In a poll on their site, customers said the No. 1 reason is chickens are “great pets.”

“It shocked me,” says Torres, who enjoys the variety of 400-plus breeds and eggs that come in all colors and sizes. “I love them as pets, but for me it’s also this idea of the eggs.”

Jason Purkiss, a former San Diegan living in Idaho, has kept chickens about five years and has 10 birds. They are low-maintenance pets that help his kids learn responsibility. His favorite breed, the Mille Fleur bantam, is entertaining and each bird has a personality.

“They’re just funny little creatures,” he says. “They’re the type that will follow you around the yard.”